jbarajas's blog

2012 is upon us! After 2 weeks of parties, family gatherings and general celebration, it’s time to get back to work. The weeks leading up to and including Christmas and New Years are often our least productive. We don’t have time to work out, stay organized or stick to our “green” principles. When January 1st comes along, most of us make resolutions to get our lives back on track, partially to make up for the weeks of binging and the guilt we feel from allowing our usual habits to take a vacation. So as we make those New Year’s Resolutions, keep these few tips in mind for a successful one.

Every year, Christmas goes by too fast. We spend weeks preparing, decorating and cooking and in one joyous day it’s all over and we are left with the skeletons of gifts given, a slightly dimmer gleam from lights and decorations and a dishwasher full of our special purpose flatware. While it’s a major bummer to “undeck” the halls, we still have to make conscious decisions about what to do with the ultimate in Christmas symbols: the Christmas tree.

First of all, do your research. Leaving your tree on the curb does not mean that it will be recycled or composted. Earth 911 has put together the most comprehensive list to date of recycling centers and services to date. Keep in mind that even though Christmas trees are entirely biodegradable, we still need to help them along by turning them into mulch or donating them to other eco-conscious causes.

Did you know that during the holidays the average American household produces up to three times the amount of waste that it does throughout the rest of the year? Most of this waste consists of packaging refuse, leftover food and wrapping paper. This year, reduce your carbon footprint by taking a few simple steps to wrap your gifts eco-consciously. Here are a few ideas for streamlining your use of wasteful dyed paper while maintaining the creativity and beauty associated with a traditional Christmas tree, complete with beautiful packages.

Over the years, Christmas time as become synonymous with excess. Our electricity bills go through the roof with all the extra lights, our waistlines become unmanageable with all the extra food and our wallets become sad and lonely because of all the present we are expected to buy. All of this excess add up, not only in our daily lives but in our landfills as well. So this year, rather than indulging in the abundance of “stuff,” try a more sustainable Christmas. Here are some ideas for decorating your home in a fun and festive, yet eco-friendly style.

Another Thanksgiving is upon us! We would like to take this time to thank you, our loyal customers and readers for allowing us to be a part of your life. Whether you have fenced your patio in our bamboo fences or found the perfect tiki bar to perfect your backyard oasis, we are happy to have helped you make your home as comfortable as it can be.

We are thankful for your business and support because without you, we would be unable do the things we love: build relationships with the community in which we operate and spread the word about the green revolution in the hope of making this a better world for all of us. We hope that you take this special holiday to remember and give thanks for the things you love to do. Whether love sitting on the beach on a sunny afternoon, playing basketball with friends in the park or simply enjoying the company of others slow down for just a second to count your blessings and credit your accomplishments.

1. Identify the area of the roof or palapa that needs to be replaced. Look for discoloration or odd breaks and separations in the fronds.

2. Assess whether you need new thatch bundles or if you can fix the thatch you already have installed. Strange breaks and odd patterns can be easily remedied with zip ties or electrical ties and can save a lot of time and trouble.

Happy Halloween Bamboo and Tikis! Today is one of the best holidays of the year: when you are encouraged to shed your mild-mannered persona and become a terrifying creature of the night. This is the one holiday where you can finally live out your fantasy life. However, we remind you to do so in a safe, fun and healthy way.

Over the years, we have suggested, explained and incorporated strategies and practices for leading a sustainable lifestyle. We have gone over the many reasons to go green, including saving money and being environmentally responsible. But are you REALLY making a difference? I have personally gone on a quest to be more eco-conscious by recycling, being “that friend” that annoys my friends into recycling and reusing or unplugging everything I can get my hands on. However, one has to wonder if those things matter when you drive hundreds of miles a week, far offsetting any carbon emissions you may have saved by conserving.

Bamboo has come a long way since it was introduced primarily as the backdrop of tiki bars and the symbol of all things tropical. With modern technological advances, inventors have been able to construct anything and everything from bamboo cane or bamboo fiber. Not just for fencing and tropical décor anymore, bamboo is now being considered as the primary frame material for electric cars.

Currently, electric cars utilize a heavy electric battery that will propel the car an average of 100 miles. The approximately 200 pound battery, coupled with a fiberglass or steel frame makes for a heavy car without much room for battery mileage improvement. However, a bamboo frame would reduce the overall weight, compensating for the battery and increasing its potency.